Fishing apparatus



(No Model.)

M. H. WHITGOMB.I

FISHING APPARATUS. No. 253,456. APatented Feb. 7,1882.

N. Pneus. mwunhugmpw. wilma. uc.

y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' MARCIENE H. WHITCOMB, `OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FISHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,456, dated February 7, 1882. Application filed January 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern YBe it known that I, MARCIENE H. WHIT- COMB, of Holyoke, in the conntyof Hampden scription, reference being` had to the accom-` panyingdrawings, where`v Figure l is a side view ofthe apparatus set or adjusted for fishing. Fig. 2 is a tront view of the apparatus sprung or unset. Fig.3 is a view of the apparatus sprung or unset, but in ythe same position as indicated in Fig. l incentral longitudinalvertieal section.

The apparatus is designed to be set after thef'ashion ofa trap, notably for fishing through holes made in the ice in winter, so that when a. fish bites at the hook'a signal denoting the fact shall be automatically displayed.

The letter a denotes a round tube, which forms the bodyof the appara tus, into the lower end of which is inserted a stick, b, to serve as a standard. On the outside of tube c there is hung a spool, c, to hold the fish-lined. The lower end of this spool bears on the stop e, and the spool is kept in place on the upper side by the elastic clasp f, which can be moved up and down on the tube, permitting the spool to be removed, and can he set to bear against the end of thc spool with suflcient friction to prevent the spool from turning with undue ease. Inside the tube is a piston, g, the upper end of which is furnished with pompon, flag, or other suitable device as a signal, which comes down pretty well into the tube when the device is set, as seen in Fig. 1, butwhi'ch shoots up into sight when the device is sprung, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. This pistou is limpelled upward by a spring, IL, one end of which is attached to the tube and the other end of which is attached to the piston. The piston, which is practically larod, is bent 7out laterally at the lower end, projecting through a vertical slot, i, made in the wall of' the tube, forming a tappet for cooperation with the tripping-leverj, which is'pivoted to the outside ofthe tube, and having its inner end formed into a hook to catch upon the lateral projection of the piston, with its other end (when the device is set) projecting laterally for connection with the fish-line. A loop at a convenient point is tied in the line, denoted by d', and hung upon the outer end of the tripping-lever, as seen in Fig. 1.

Thcnce it drops down into the water with ahook, 7c, suitably baited depending therefrom.

Nhen a fish takes -hold of the hoole4 and, as is natural, pulls upon it, the hook of the tripping-lever is detached from the lateral projection of the piston, which, being thus freed, iiies up and displays the pompon at the top. l The apparatus can be very eompactly packed when not in use. The line can be wound upon the spool, the long. end of the tripping-lever confined within the loop which forms the projecting tappet ot' the piston, the pompon detached from the piston and stuck into the tube, and the point of the fish-hook stuck into the lower end of the pompon.

I claim as my invention-- I 1. The combination of the tubular body, the spring-piston with its signal-top, the trippinglever, and the iish-liue, all substantially as described, and for purposes specified.

2. The combination of the tubular body, the spool thereon, the spring-piston, the tripping- 4 75 lever, and the fishline, all substantially as described, aud for purposes specified.

MARGIENE H. WHITGOMB.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. SMi'rH, PLINY J. CRAFTS. 

